The Washington Wizards came into this one riding their first win streak (two straight victories) in more than nine months. The Suns were having one of their better weeks of the season, with three straight wins (against the Lakers, and then twice against the Pelicans). So something had to give.
Here were the starting fives on each squad:
As you can see, the Suns weren’t fooling around, rolling out their strongest available guys, and not resting, or load managing or whatever it is now called in the league.
And the Wizards certainly showed up, along with their good defense of late.
In the first quarter the Wizards held the visitors to just 22 points, edging the Suns 23-22.
Through the first 18 minutes, the Wizards held Booker and Brooks to an impressive combined 4-16 from the field.
And of course, in the 19th minute, Dillon Brooks was T-ed up, after not getting a call on a missed lay-up. What’s new?
For those die-hard Wizards fans, you might remember that at some distant point in the past, the GM was Ernie Grunfeld, who thought he was making a trade that would acquire Dillon Brooks. The deal collapsed when it turned out the Wizards would end up with Marshon Brooks. He then made the same atrocious trade anyway, without involving anyone named Brooks.
The Wizards’ lead held up for about two-thirds through the second quarter, as the Wizards last led 44-43. But at that point the Suns shots started going in, and the teams went to the lockers with the Suns up 61-54. The Wizards’ defense did crumble a bit in that second quarter, allowing 39 points.
In the third quarter both teams settled down a bit, with the Suns edging the Wizards 26-25. Entering the fourth quarter, the Wizards trailed 87-79.
In the last couple games, the Wizards had great fourth quarters. Not this time. The Suns came to take care of business, and were clearly on notice by the Wizards last couple wins. It also didn’t help that the Wizards only scored 22 in the final period.
On the bright side, above everything, the Wizards have tightened up their defense in these last several games. Just recently, they were allowing opponents more than 126 points per contest. In these last seven games they have allowed: 89, 119, 122, 124, 126, 117, 112, so on average just around 115 per game. And that’s exactly how much they allowed tonight. That’s a big improvement.
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Tre Johnson who was +18 just a couple nights ago, was -18 tonight. However, and this is a big however, he was the Wizards’ best player, scoring 24 points in 24 minutes, going a perfect 5-5 from deep, and 9-12 from the field. He did have 3 turnovers to 2 assists.
Alex Sarr, coming off perhaps his best game of the season, had what might have been his worst. He had a team-worst -28 plus/minus, and scored just 2 points in 25 minutes, while attempting only 5 shots.
Bagley had a good evening, grabbing 7 boards and 3 blocks, as well as a team-best +11 in 22 minutes and 7 points.
For the Suns, Brooks managed to not get ejected, and was the leading scorer with 26. Booker added 22, and Gillespie 25.
The Wizards now hit the road, and head to Milwaukee for New Year’s Eve.